Analysis Paper
Ryan Verbiest
THST 198 08
August 28, 2014
Analysis Paper #1
Story of Ethics Plato and Aristotle each convey important points throughout their writings pertaining to the origin of ethics. Plato repetitively emphasizes his understanding of truth and reason, while Aristotle explains the significance of virtue and habituation. Plato’s spiritual explanation of ethics addresses the importance of goodness in the world and what it means to be a good person even when immoral people may prosper. Plato continues to emphasize the higher power inside of us known as our soul, and how our soul alone is greater than the power of our physical body. In comparison to Plato’s teachings, Aristotle’s practical approach to ethics outlined the concepts of habituation and virtue. Aristotle points out the impossibility of altering nature to behave differently using habituation to change its course. Aristotle touches on the idea of completion through habituation. Aside from habituation, Aristotle explains the two types of virtue, intellectual and character. Intellectual virtue revolves around ones experiences in life as a groundwork for teaching, while Character virtue is described as an outcome of habituation. Attending catholic school my whole life has taught me a lot about my religion with several morality issues relating back to the teachings of Plato and Aristotle.
Plato’s emphasis on being a good person is something I have always agreed with and respected. It has been synced in me to bring goodness to those around me because without it, success and happiness are minimal. As Plato says in the reading, “[T]he best and most just is also the happiest…the worst and most unjust man is also the most miserable.” (53) Misery comes from negativity and built up anger that can be so easily reversed with the help of habituation, Aristotle’s main point. “We become just by doing just actions, temperate by temperate actions, and courageous by courageous actions.” (56) A slight shift in
THST 198 08
August 28, 2014
Analysis Paper #1
Story of Ethics Plato and Aristotle each convey important points throughout their writings pertaining to the origin of ethics. Plato repetitively emphasizes his understanding of truth and reason, while Aristotle explains the significance of virtue and habituation. Plato’s spiritual explanation of ethics addresses the importance of goodness in the world and what it means to be a good person even when immoral people may prosper. Plato continues to emphasize the higher power inside of us known as our soul, and how our soul alone is greater than the power of our physical body. In comparison to Plato’s teachings, Aristotle’s practical approach to ethics outlined the concepts of habituation and virtue. Aristotle points out the impossibility of altering nature to behave differently using habituation to change its course. Aristotle touches on the idea of completion through habituation. Aside from habituation, Aristotle explains the two types of virtue, intellectual and character. Intellectual virtue revolves around ones experiences in life as a groundwork for teaching, while Character virtue is described as an outcome of habituation. Attending catholic school my whole life has taught me a lot about my religion with several morality issues relating back to the teachings of Plato and Aristotle.
Plato’s emphasis on being a good person is something I have always agreed with and respected. It has been synced in me to bring goodness to those around me because without it, success and happiness are minimal. As Plato says in the reading, “[T]he best and most just is also the happiest…the worst and most unjust man is also the most miserable.” (53) Misery comes from negativity and built up anger that can be so easily reversed with the help of habituation, Aristotle’s main point. “We become just by doing just actions, temperate by temperate actions, and courageous by courageous actions.” (56) A slight shift in